WENTWORTH, Norma Jean Cunningham 1930-2006

WENTWORTH, CUNNINGHAM, BUSTA, PECHOTA

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 9/3/2011 at 13:25:37

Wentworth, Cunningham, Busta, Pechota

Norma Jeanette (Pechota) Cunningham Wentworth, 76, of Bella Vista, and formerly of Waterloo, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, December 19, 2006, with her family at her side. She was born July 12, 1930 on a farm near Little Turkey, Iowa, the youngest child of Edward and Regina (Busta) Pechota.

Norma attended schools in New Hampton and Waterloo, Iowa, and worked for East Side Library, Strickler Pharmacy, North Waterloo Market, Buchanan Candy Company and Kroblin Transportation. On August 26, 1948, she married Patrick Cunningham at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waterloo, Iowa. He retired after 31 years from John Deere Tractor Works and was a lifetime member of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. In 1980 they moved to Bella Vista.

Norma had been employed by Bella Vista Property Owners Association since 1980 and was part-time until her health forced her to retire. She was active in Bella Vista’s American Legion Auxiliary Post #341, Bella Vista’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 9063, Bentonville Business & Professional Women, and was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church.

After Patrick Cunningham’s death, Norma continued going to the USS Cumming Ship Reunions, where she met Patrick’s fellow shipmate and best friend, Charles Wentworth. Norma and Charlie were united in marriage on May 12, 2000 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. Together they were instrumental in creating a lasting memorial to recognize all veterans of all conflicts. The United States of America “Wall of Honor” is located at 103 Veterans Way in Bella Vista.

Survivors include her devoted husband, Charles Wentworth; Step-sons, Ricky (Jane) Wentworth of Mt. Pleasant, SC and Bobby (Mary Ann) Wentworth of San Diego, CA; two step-grandsons of Mt Pleasant, SC; sister-in-law, Zelda Pechota of Ormond Beach, FL; aunt Theresa Busta of Cresco, Iowa; three nieces, Diana (Terry) Schaack and Patricia Mann of Ormond Beach, FL, Teresa Turner of Concord, NC and one nephew, James (Kelly) Pechota of The Colony, TX; five great- nieces and nephews, ten great-great-nieces and nephews; and many cousins in Iowa.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Patrick Cunningham, who died on January 7, 1996; parents, Edward, who died February 17, 1964 and Regina, who died November 18, 1987; brothers, Walter who died October 5, 1990 and Raymond who died, July 10, 2001.

Graveside committal services will be 10:00 am Thursday, December 28, 2006 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Waterloo. Visitation will be 4 to 7:00 pm Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, where a 7:00 pm Scripture service will be conducted.

Memorials may be made to St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Bella Vista, One St. Bernard Lane, Bella Vista, Arkansas 72715 or to the Veterans Wall of Honor, 103 Veterans Way, Bella Vista, Arkansas 72714.

[Source: Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home]

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